Collapsible fire escape



Mdy 12, 1925. 1,53 7,506

A..SPERL COLLAPSIBLE FIRE ESCAPE Filed June 15, 1922 I Wan/1f W4 flTTOfPNEYBZ Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT COLLAPSIBLE FIRE ESCAPE.

Application filed June 15, 1922. Serial No. 568,440.

T 0 all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, ANToNIN SPERL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Pomona, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Collapsible Fire Escape, of which the following'is a specification.

My invention relates to fire escapes and is more particularly a fire escapewhich provides direct communication with the ground.

Fire escapes as they are ordinarily constructed consist of a series of platforms mounted upon the outside of a building, one at each story and connected oneto the other by stairs or ladders. Although it is 'considered desirable to provide fire escapes, which lead directly to the ground, it is customary to discontinue the downward course of the fire escape at the first floor above the ground so easy access may not be had to the fire escape by undesirable characters such as sneak thieves and burglars who take advantage of various means of entry into the upper stories of buildings.

It is an object of my invention to provide a fire escape having a collapsible ladder communicating with the ground which may be locked in collapsed position, and in which collapsed position the ladder is extremely difiicult of ascent.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a door in the platform to which the collapsible ladder leads which will remain closed unless the ladder is operated from above, so that the progress of a person who has succeeded climbing the collapsed ladder will be obstructed.

It is also an object of the invention'to provide an operating device for the collapsible ladder which will also constitute an extension to the ladder for the assistance of those desiring to descend.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a means for locking the ladder in collapsed position which will be dependent in actuation upon the movement of the extension ladder in operating the collapsible ladder. 1

The specificadvantages of my invention and further objects thereof will be made evident hereinafter.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing a fire escape embodying my invention with theladder thereof in open position, whereby descent may be made to the ground from the platform.- I c Fig. 2 is afragmentary plan view corresponding to F ig.1, the ladder therein being in'section on'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the ladder with which the fire escape illustrated in Fig. 1 is equipped, in-

.collapsed position and with a passage obstructing door, with which the fire escape is also equipped, 111 closed position across OF I the opening in the floor of the platform through which communication of the ladder with the platform is accomplished.

Fig. 4 is a section taken upon the plane 1 represented by the line 44: of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken also upon the plane represented by line 4- 1 of Fig. l for the purpose of illustrating the action of the locking mechanism.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing a lower fire cscape platform 11 is shown., Leading downwardly through an opening 12 in the floor 13 of the platform 11 is a ladder 15 which com--.

municates with the sidewalk or ground 16. This ladder 15 comprises a collapsible section 18 and an extension19 which pivots to the upper end of the legs 20 and 21 of the collapsible section 15. The leg20 of the collapsible section consists of a structural angle and is attached at 22'to the platform 7 and is also secured at 23 to the sidewalk 16 and is vthus madestationary. The leg21,

which also consists of a structural angle, is

attached to the leg'20 by means of rungs 24 which are pivotedat 25 to the two legs.

By lifting the leg-21, it is possible to swing it upon the'rungs 24 into, a position against the leg 20 so that a boxlike shaft-as shown in Fig. 5 having the rungs 24 folded therewithin is formed. This lifting of the leg 21 and collapsing the collapsible ladder I accomplish by swinging the ladder extension 19,'in the direction indicated by the arrow 30, upon the stationarypivot 31 into the horizontal position shown at 32 in Fig. 3.

As a locking means for holding the angle 21 in collapsed position against the angle 20 I provide a vertical rod 35 which extends along the inner edge of the angle 20'and has a number of locking arms 36 mounted thereupon, and a crank 37 at the. top thereof by which the rod 35 maybe partly revolved so as to swing the arms 36from the position in which they are indicated in full lines in Fig. 5 to the d t e line position 38 against the inner leg 39 of the angle which constitutes the leg 21. The crank 37' is'connected by a link/ to a bell crank 43 which is mounted upon the under side of the platform and has a thrust bar'44 extending therefrom through the floor 13 0f the platform.

When the extension ladder 19" is lowered from the upright position into horizontal position, the side member thereof comesinto contact with the thrust bar 44, and forcing it downward causes thebell crank 43 to be partly rotated and the link 40 to be ad vanced in the direction of the arrow '47 in Fig. 5, this rotating. thecrank 37 and the j 'rod 35 and causing the arms 36 to be brought into engagement with the angle 21 which has been collapsed due to the movements of the ladder extension 19 as previously described; 1

I A door is pivoted at 51 to the platform lland has-a bracket 53 mounted thereupon .upon which a bi-l'ateral link 54 is pivoted.

Bet-weenthe'end 55 of thelink 54 and a bracket 56' mounted upon the platform 11 there extends a link 5'? and from the end 59 o'fthe link member 54 a link 60 is connected to a cross plate 61 which is mounted upon the extensionladder 19. As the extension 19 is swung froin the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1 to the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 3 a movement is exerted through the link, 60 to the link member 54 which causes the door 50 to be swung inwardly upon the pivot 51 into the closed position across the opening 12 in which it is shown in Fig. 3. p ThBClOOY5O-1S of such size as tosubstantially'fill the opening 12 so that little space 'is' provided for a grip to be taken'by any personwho' has succeeded in climbing the box formed by the collapsed angles QO and 21, therefore making it very diflicult for any person to mount theplatforin' 11 by means oftthe collapsed ladder. V

The extension 19 when in horizontal position cannot be reached or lifted by persons located below the platform 11, but may be 'easily lifted by any person standing upon the platform. It will be perceived that in throwing the collapsiblesection of the lad der into open position, it is only necessary to lift the extension 19 from the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3 to the vertical position shown in Fig. 1, the locking mechanism being released-thereby and permitting the leg"21 to swing-freely away-from the stationaiy j leg 20'.

- I claim as my invention:

In a fire escape, the combination ofza' platform having an opening through the floor thereof; a collapsible ladder extending throughsaid opening; and a rigid ladder having the legs'thereof pivoted to the legs "of said collapsible ladder, whereby saidgcoh lapsible ladder will be collapsed when said rigid ladder is swung out fthe vertical position. I

2. In afireescape, the combination of: a platform, having an opening through the floor thereof; a collapsible ladder extending through said opening; and a rigid ladder having thelegs thereof pivoted tothe legs of said collapsible ladder, wherebysaid collapsible ladder will be collapsed when said rigid ladder is swung-out of thever- 'tical position; a'door adaptedto close said opening; and link means connecting between said door andsaid rigid ladder whereby said door will be closed as said collapsible ladder.

is collapsed. I

8. in a fire escape, the combination of: a platform having an opening through the floor thereof; a collapsible ladder extending through said'opening; and a rigid ladder having the legs thereof pivoted to the legs of said collapsible ladder, whereby said collapsible ladder will be collapsed when said rigid ladder is swung out of the vertical position; and means operated by said rigid ladder when said vertical ladder is swung la-psible ladder in collapsedposition.

4. In a fireescape, the combination of: a platform having an opening through the floor thereof; a collapsible'ladder extending through said opening; and a rigid ladder having thelegs thereof pivoted to the legs of said collapsible ladder, whereby said collapsible ladder will be collapsed when said out of vertical position,for locking said e01- rigid ladder is swung out of the vertical po- 'sition; a door adapted to close said opening; and link means connecting between said door and said rigid ladder whereby said door will be closed as said collapsible ladder collapsed; and means operated by said rigid ladder when said. vertical ladder is pivoted atthe upper ends of said legs, said rigid ladder being adapted to be swung upon the pivot by which it is connected to said stationary leg, thus swinging said movable leg into collapsed position against said stationary leg.

7.111 a fire escape, thecombination off a stationary leg; a movable leg; rungs pivoted between said legs, and a rigid ladder swung out of vertical position, for locking V pivoted at the upper ends of said legs, said rigid ladder being adapted to be swung upon the pivot by which it is connected to said stationary leg, thus swinging said movment with said rnovable'le when said movable leg is in collapsed position.

8. In a fire escape, the combination of: a stationary leg; a movable leg; rungs pivoted between said logs; and a rigid ladder pivoted at the upper ends of said legs, said rigid ladder being adapted to be swung upon the pivot by which it is connected to said stationary leg, thus swinging said movable leg into collapsed position against said sta tionary le a bar extending along said stationary leg; locking arms mounted upon said bar; and means dependent in actuation upon the said rigid extension ladder for rotating said bar so as to bring said arms into locking engagement with said movable leg when said movable leg is in collapsed position.

9. In a fire escape, the combination of: a platform having an opening therein; a door adapted to close said opening; a stationary leg extending downwardly from said opening; a movable leg extending parallel to said, stationary leg; rungs pivoted between said legs; a rigid extension ladder having one side thereof pivoted at the upper end of said stationary leg and the other side thereof pivoted to said movable leg, so as to lift said movable leg into a collapsed position against said stationary leg as said extension ladder is swung upon said stationary pivot; link means extending between'said extension ladder and said door whereby said door will be closed as said extension ladder is swung upon said pivot; a rotatable rod-extending along said stationary leg; locking arms ex tending from said rod in positions to engage said movable leg when said movable leg is in collapsed position; a crank secured upon the upper end of said rod; a bell crank mounted on the underside of said platform; a thrust bar extending from said bell crank through said platform in a position to be engaged and forced downward by said extension ladder as it is operated to collapse said movable leg; and a link connecting between said crank and said bell crank where by said rod will be rotated to bring said arms into locking engagement with said movable leg when said movable leg is in collapsed position against said stationary leg.

10. In a fire escape, the combination of: a collapsible ladder; a rigid extension ladder pivoted to said collapsible ladder and adapted to collapse said collapsible ladder when swung out of vertical position in the plane in which said collapsible ladder folds; and

along said stationary leg;

meansoperated by said rigid ladder when said vertical ladder is swung out of verticalposition, for locking said collapsible ladder in collapsed position. v

11. In a fire escape, the combination of: a stationary leg;'a movable leg; rungs pivoted between said legs: arigid ladder piv- Voted at the upper ends of said legs, said rigid ladder being adapted to be swung in the plane in which said collapsiblev ladder folds uponthe pivot by which it is con nected to said stationary leg, thus swinging said movable leg into collapsed position against said stationary leg; a bar extending locking arms mounted upon said bar; and means for rotating said bar so as to bring said arms into locking engagement with, said movable leg when said movable leg is in collapsed posi f tion.

12. In a fire escape, the combination of: a platform having an opening therein; a door adapted-to close said opening; a sta opening; a movable leg extending parallel to said stationary leg; rungs pivoted between said legs; a rigid extension ladder having one side thereof pivoted at the upper end of said stationaryleg and the other side thereof pivoted to said movable leg, soas to be swung through the plane in which said collapsible ladder folds and lift said movable leg into a collapsed position against said stationary leg as said extension ladder is swung upon said stationary pivot; link means extending between said extensionladder and said door whereby said door will be closed as said extension laddervis swung upon said pivot; a rotatable rod extending along said stationary leg; locking arms extending from said rod in positions-to engage said movable legwhen said movable leg is in collapsed position; a crank secured upon the upper end of said rod; a bell crank mounted on the underside of said platform; a thrust bar extending from said bell crank through said platform in a position to be engaged and forced downward by said extension, ladder as it is operated to collapse said movable leg; and a link connecting between said crank and said bell crank whereby said rod will be rotated to bring said arms into locking engagement with said movable leg when said movable leg is in collapsed p osi tion against said stationary le 13. In a fire escape, the combination of: a collapsible ladder; and a rigid extension ladder pivoted to said collapsible ladder and adapted to collapse said collapsible ladder when swung out'of vertical position.

14;. In a fire escape, the combination of: a platform having an opening through the floor thereof; a collapsible ladder extending through said opening; a rigid ladder pivoted at the upper end of said ladder, adapted to tionaryleg extending downwardly from said Y I I pivoted at the upper end of said collapsible ladder and adapted to collapse said collapsi- .a-collapsible ladder;a ladder member piv-' oted atithe upper end of said collapsible V ble ladder when swung out of vertical posi tion; and means operated by'said rigid ladder when said vertical ladder is swung out of vertical position, for'lockingvsaid collapsible ladder in collapsed position.

16. In a fire {88021138, the combination of: a collapsible ladder; and a ladder member pivoted at the upper end of said collapsible ladder adapted to serve as an'extension to said ladder when in vertical position and adapted to collapse said collapsible ladder when swung out of vertical position.'

17. In a fire escape the combination of:

ladder adapted to serve as an extension to said ladder when in vertical position and adapted to collapse saidcollapsible ladder when swung o ut of vertical position; and means consequent upon the collapse of said collapsible ladder and releasable by the elevation of said extension "for locking said ladder in collapsed position.

18. In a fire escape, the'coinbination of: a platform having an opening therein; a collapsible ladder communicating with said opening; a ladder 'lneinbcr pivoted at the upper end of saidcollapsible ladder adapted to serve as an extension to said ladder when in vertical position and adapted to collapse said collapsible ladder when swung out of vertical position; a door for said opening; and means consequent upon the swinging of said member for opening said door.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Pomona, California, this. S'day of June, 1922. I v

, ANTONIN sPERn-f 

